Gesture-based typing has been around for years, but the technology has now become so sophisticated that smartphone manufacturers are using it as a major selling point for their devices.

The new Samsung Galaxy S 4, for example, uses SwiftKey’s predictive technology to “infer” what you’re trying to say. What you type into a web search, text message or an email is remembered by the phone’s brain and recycled when you type.

It’s not auto correct, says The Wall Street Journal, the phone is completing what you are mostly to tap on the keyboard.

And even HAL would agree, this is more than science. It’s business. Phone manufacturers want you to spend less time putting in data and more time surfing, viewing and buying.